2.        ^lOS-ANCI 

&  ^      ^"V 


m  i 

§    -^  —     -^ 

'3-JO^        ^OJIIVJ-JO^" 


"V          '-/ 

^OdllVJh 

.  aF-TAMFn 


m* 


§     2 

hmvy^     ^ 


*  I 
§   < 


s  § 


1  i 

S         fc" 


-     ^ 
'0Anvaaii-v^ 


s     •& 
S     S 


o      Z 

rO          f^f 


S     5 


S        s 


\V\E-UNI  VER% 


-    3 


^^       cc 


I  ^ 


£     5 

30  O 


<" 

fyojnvD-jo^ 


1  1 


<TJU3NV  SOl^ 


^OFCAIIFOP^ 


OF-CAIIFO% 


A\\E-UNIVEI% 

^ 


^     ^ 


I        | 


I    3 

S    s 


, 

%iJ3AINniV\V 


F.   ALLEN    McCURDY. 


J.   KIRK   McCURDY. 


TWO  ROUGH  RIDERS 


LETTERS  FROM 
F.  ALLEN  McCURDY  AND  J.  KIRK  McCURDY 

OF   PHILADELPHIA,    PENNSYLVANIA 

Who  Volunteered  and  Fought  with  the 

Rough  Riders  during  the  Spanish 

American  War  of  1898 

TO  THEIR  FATHER 

J.    M.    McCURDY 

FULLY  ILLUSTRATED 

WITH   AN   INTRODUCTION   BY 

JOSEPH  TYLER  BUTTS 


F.  TENNYSON  NEELY 

114  Fifth  Arenue  96  Queen  Street 

NEW  YORK  LONDON 


Copyright,  1903, 

by 
F.  TENNYSON  NEELY, 

in  the 
United  States 

and 

Great  Britain. 

Entered  at  Stationer's  Hall, 

London. 

All  Eights  Reserred. 


Two  'Though  l^iders. 


INTRODUCTION. 

THE  Maine  had  been  instantly  destroyed,  carry- 
ing down  to  her  piteous  doom  hundreds  of  brave 
loyal  Americans.  The  pulse  of  the  nation  beat 
at  fever  heat,  while  the  unquenchable  fires  of 
patriotism,  indignation,  revenge  and  fury  which 
had  been  slumbering  and  almost  forgotten  by  this 
peaceful  nation,  instantly  burst  into  a  seething 
conflagration.  The  newspapers  were  read  with 
intensely  drawn  muscles,  trembling  fingers  and 
nervous  thrills  of  cold  and  heat.  All  were  im- 
patiently awaiting,  as  a  racer  at  the  post,  to  dash 
to  a  mighty  revenge  and  the  accomplishment  of 
a  chivalric  purpose.  None  but  a  powerful  mind, 
such  as  that  of  our  martyred  president,  and  the 
immortal  Sigsbee  could  have  held  in  check,  even 
for  an  instant,  the  fury  of  a  just  people. 

It  was  the  same  volcanic  impetus  which  the 
guns  of  Lexington  and  Sumter  called  forth,  but 


iv  Introduction. 

which  the  present  younger  generation  had  little 
conception  of,  except  from  hearsay.  It  was  the 
same  flesh  and  blood,  bone  and  sinew  of  the 
patriots,  whose  spirit  burst  forth  from  their  limited 
scope,  and  made  them  the  most  enlightened,  gen- 
erous and  unconquerable  foe  that  ever  faced  an 
enemy. 

The  citizens  of  this  law  abiding  country  were 
bending  all  their  energies  to  the  multitudes  of  oc- 
cupations and  opportunities  which  have  made  these 
United  States  so  powerful ;  when  the  first  alarm  of 
battle  instantly  banished  all  other  thoughts  and 
aims  in  the  irresistible  force  of  an  intelligent  hon- 
est patriotism  which  brought  forth  the  power  of 
the  people ;  led  them  to  unexampled  deeds  of  brav- 
ery, which  thrilled  the  foundation  of  the  land  and 
which  future  generations  shall  read  and  judge. 

Men  with  the  power  of  riches,  the  might  of  in- 
tellect and  the  renown  of  excellence  fought  shoul- 
der to  shoulder  with  those  of  coarser  mould,  for- 
getting all  else  save  the  burning  desire  to  obtain 


Introduction.  v 

at  any  cost  the  merited  punishment  of  a  cowardly 
foe.  Fathers  were  unable  to  restrain  the  eager 
patriotism  of  their  sons,  who,  forgetting  home, 
college,  or  other  ties,  sought  only  an  opportunity 
to  enlist  under  the  Stars  and  Stripes. 

Eoosevelt  compares  this  on-rush  of  America's 
best  manhood  to  the  spirit  of  the  Vikings  which 
sent  this  fearless,  rival  race  across  the  seas. 

It  was  not  difficult  to  raise  a  sufficient  army; 
the  trouble  was  in  rejecting  and  dooming  to  dis- 
appointment hundreds  of  the  manliest,  sturdy 
warriors  the  world  has  ever  seen.  Colonel  Roose- 
velt could  have  raised  a  brigade  or  even  a  division, 
but  he  was  only  allowed  a  regiment,  which  was 
fortunately  enlarged  from  seven  hundred  and 
eighty  to  one  thousand,  giving  a  number  of  eager 
volunteers  from  the  various  colleges  and  high 
walks  of  life  an  opportunity  to  fight  beside  the 
southwestern  regiments,  who  were  men  accustomed 
to  hard  service  and  a  rough,  out-door  life. 
How  these  young  men,  reared  with  all  the  care, 


vi  Introduction. 

tenderness  and  interest  of  devoted  parents,  ac- 
quitted the  task  set  before  them  is  already  a  matter 
of  history. 

On  the  twenty-sixth  of  May,  1898,  it  was  with 
mingled  feelings  of  pride,  apprehension,  joy  and 
sorrow  that  Mr.  J.  M.  McCurdy  at  the  Union 
League  Club  in  Philadelphia,  read  a  telegram 
from  Colonel  Eoosevelt  announcing  that  his  son 
Allen  would  be  admitted  to  the  Eough  Eiders, 
should  he  report  himself  immediately.  The  de- 
light of  the  boy  was  much  over  shadowed  by  the 
keen  disappointment  of  his  brother  Kirk,  who  was 
quite  as  eager  to  enlist,  but  could  not  win  the  con- 
sent of  his  father,  who,  with  pardonable  selfishness, 
could  not  bring  himself  to  give  up  both  much  loved 
sons  when  so  many  others  with  much  less  to  live 
for,  and  with  equal  ability  and  patriotism,  were 
clamoring  for  the  opportunity. 

He  finally  agreed,  however,  to  allow  Kirk  to  ac- 
company his  brother  as  far  as  New  Orleans,  which 
he  did ;  but  the  strain  was  too  great  and  an  urgent 


Introduction.  vii 

telegram  to  his  father,  who,  relying  upon  the  im- 
probability of  his  second  son  being  accepted,  sent 
the  much  desired  permission  to  enlist. 

Kirk  continued  with  his  brother  to  San  Antonio, 
Texas,  where,  an  hour  after  their  arrival,  both 
brothers  passed  the  required  examination,  were 
accepted  and  sworn  in  for  two  years'  service. 
They  were  assigned  to  Troop  F,  Second  Squadron, 
Captain  Luna. 

The  letters  which  follow  are  the  simple,  manly, 
loving  communications  of  these  two  young  men 
to  their  much  loved  father.  They  were  written, 
as  can  be  readily  seen,  with  no  thought  of  publi- 
cation, but  in  them  are  lessons  of  tenderness, 
sympathy  and  devotion  to  a  parent,  and 
there  are  but  few  young  men  of  the  present  age 
who  could  not  find  therein  a  lesson,  which  should 
kindle  in  their  selfish  souls  a  deeper  realization 
of  their  own  thoughtlessness  and  implant  a  seed 
of  better  impulse,  higher  aims  and  a  realization 
of  the  worth  and  blessing  of  a  devoted  parent. 
JOSEPH  TYLER  BUTTS. 


J.    KIRK    McCURDY. 


F.  ALLEN   McCURDY. 


TWO  ROUGH  RIDERS. 


ON  BOARD  "YUCATAN," 

GULF  OF  MEXICO. 
Wednesday,  June  15,  1898. 
DEAR  FATHER  : — The  thirty  transports  and  war 
ships  left  Tampa  Bay  yesterday  afternoon  at 
four  o'clock,  and  we  are  now  on  the  way  to  Key 
West,  where  the  mail  will  be  taken  off.  We  are 
going  at  about  seven  knots,  as  several  of  the  boats 
are  side  wheelers,  and  unable  to  get  up  much 
speed.  Two  of  the  ships  have  pontoons  in  tow 
which  will  be  used  to  land  the  batteries  and 
horses.  There  is  not  much  chance  of  our  horses 
being  shipped  for  some  time,  so  we  are  drilled 
in  the  infantry  tactics  twice  a  day.  Part  of  the 
Second  Infantry  (regulars)  are  on  our  boat,  and 
their  band  plays  twice  a  day,  which  helps  to  en- 
liven things.  The  boat  was  too  crowded,  and  two 
companies  of  the  Second  were  taken  off  before  we 
left  Tampa  Point,  so  that  every  one  now  has 
plenty  of  room.  There  was  a  beautiful  sunset 


2  Two  Rough  Riders. 

last  evening,  and  the  thirty  transports  and  battle 
ships  made  a  splendid  picture.  The  general  im- 
pression seems  to  be  that  we  will  land  near  San- 
tiago de  Cuba,  but  a  great  many  think  we  are 
bound  for  Porto  Rico.  Several  of  the  men  are 
sea-sick,  but  as  there  is  a  large  supply  of  lemons 
and  chewing  gum  on  hand  we  hope  to  avert  it. 

We  each  have  a  pair  of  running  shoes  in  our 
locker  at  Franklin  Field,  and  if  you  will  give  Lew 
my  bunch  of  keys,  he  can  get  them.  George  Tur- 
ner, the  field  manager,  will  show  Lew  where  our 
locker  is,  but  in  case  he  is  not  there,  I  will  en- 
close directions.  Please  remember  me  to  Lovett. 
Your  loving  son, 

ALLEN. 


ON  BOARD  "YUCATAN," 
GULF  OF  MEXICO. 

June  15,   1898. 

MY  DEAR  FATHER  : — Yesterday  afternoon  all  the 
transports  got  under  way  and  are  now  steaming  for 
Key  West  where  I  will  mail  this  letter.  Allen  and 
I  are  both  well,  and  were  both  vaccinated  day  be- 
fore yesterday;  we  thought  it  would  be  a  good 
thing  so  had  it  done  here  on  board. 

Sunday  we  went  ashore  and  went  to  Tampa, 
where  we  told  the  express  people  to  keep  our  boxes 


Two  Rough  Riders.  3 

until  we  called  for  them,  as  it  was  impossible  to 
get  them  then,  being  Sunday.  We  bought  a  few 
eatables  and  have  them  with  us — a  couple  of  boxes 
of  pickles,  sardines  and  lemons. 

The  weather  is  fine  and  we  are  enjoying  our- 
selves immensely  and  are  both  very  well.  The 
food  is  not  so  bad,  and  when  one  becomes  used 
to  it,  it  is  quite  good,  and  as  our  appetites  are  fine 
most  anything  tastes  good.  A  meal  consists  of 
a  large  tin  cup  of  coffee,  corned  or  roast  beef 
(canned),  and  either  beans  or  tomatoes,  sometimes 
both  and  all  the  hard  tack  we  want.  As  we  have 
made  friends  with  several  men  on  board  we  al- 
ways get  something  else,  and  so  fare  very  well.  • 

After  we  leave  Key  West  there  will  not  be  any 
chance  to  write  for  a  good  while,  so  if  you  do  not 
hear  from  us,  it  will  be  because  there  is  no  way 
for  mail  to  go.  I  believe  there  is  a  Post 
Office  to  be  located  when  we  land,  but  it  will  be 
some  time  before  the  mail  will  be  sent  to  the 
United  States. 

When  you  see  Lew,  tell  him  we  received  his  let- 
ter and  thank  him  for  the  clippings;  also  I  en- 
close one  which  he  wished  to  be  returned. 

The  transports  are  steaming  in  a  double  line 
with  the  Castine,  a  gun  boat,  at  the  head  of  one, 
and  the  Hornet,  a  torpedo  boat,  heading  the  other, 
with  several  smaller  boats,  the  Helene  and  Annap- 


4  Two  Rough  Riders. 

oils,  on  the  flanks.  We  continue  in  this  order 
until  we  reach  Key  West  to-night,  and  then  we 
will  be  escorted  by  several  large  battle  ships. 

With  this  regiment  and  on  this  boat  there  are 
two  rapid  fire  and  one  dynamite  gun,  with  crews 
from  the  "Kough  Eiders." 

I  will  write  again  as  soon  as  there  is  any  chance 
of  the  mail  going. 

Hoping  you  are  as  well  as  we  are,  with  much 
love  and  many,  many  kisses, 

Your  loving  son, 

KIRK. 


ON  BOAKD  "YUCATAN," 
OFF  SANTIAGO. 

June  22,  1898. 

DEAR  FATHER: — We  have  been  lying  here  for 
twenty-four  hours,  and  there  is  a  rumor  current 
we  will  land  at  five  o'clock,  and  as  it  is  now  four 
I  will  finish  and  mail  this  letter.  As  we  steamed 
along  the  coast  about  fifty  miles  back,  one  of  our 
torpedo  boats  ran  into  a  harbor  and  reported  it 
had  just  been  captured  by  United  States  marines 
to  be  used  as  a  coaling  station.  After  one  hun- 
dred hours'  fighting,  without  eating  or  sleeping, 
Spaniards  had  150  killed,  200  wounded  and  18 
taken  prisoners.  Marines  lost  six  killed  :  wounded 


Two  Rough  Riders.  5 

not  reported.  We  have  a  shower  every  day,  and 
for  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  the  rain  comes  down 
in  torrents,  after  which  the  sun  comes  out  and 
the  storm  disappears  as  quickly  as  it  came  up. 
To-day  during  our  daily  shower  we  witnessed  a 
water  spout  towards  the  coast,  and  it  certainly 
was  a  novel  sight.  We  passed  a  sailing  yacht  the 
other  day  flying  the  Cuban  flag;  whereat  there 
was  much  joy  both  aboard  the  Cuban  boat  and  the 
transports.  Morro  Castle  is  plainly  visible,  and 
every  once  in  awhile  we  can  see  a  white  puff  from 
one  of  Sampson's  big  guns,  which  makes  us  think 
he  is  shelling  the  coast  preparatory  to  our  land- 
ing. Am  writing  this  on  the  hurricane  deck, 
which  accounts  for  the  unevenness  of  the  writing. 
The  wind  is  very  strong,  otherwise  it  would  be 
very  hot. 

We  have  been  aboard  now  two  weeks  and  one 
day,  and  landing  will  be  a  very  welcome  change. 
It  is  very  hot  below  at  night,  so  we  "bunk"  up 
here  every  night,  although  one  of  us  has  to  remain 
here  all  the  day,  as  "bunking"  space  on  deck  is 
scarce,  and  claims  are  continually  being  "jumped" 
as  the  cowboys  express  it.  We  will  write  as  soon 
as  a  landing  is  made. 

With  love  and  hoping  to  be  with  you  soon, 
Your  loving  son, 

ALLEN. 


6  Two  Rough  Riders. 

OFF  SANTIAGO. 

June  22,  1898. 

MY  DEAR  FATHER: — We  arrived  here  at  San- 
tiago last  evening,  and  are  now  lying  outside  of 
the  harbor.  Sampson's  fleet  is  blockading  the 
harbor,  and  was  firing  when  we  came  up.  We 
expect  to  land  to-morrow,  after  the  fortifications 
have  been  reduced.  Last  night  the  Bancroft 
came  alongside  and  told  us  there  had  been  a  fight 
at  a  port  which  we  were  passing  about  twenty- 
five  miles  from  Santiago  east ;  that  after  one  hun- 
dred hours'  steady  fighting  the  marines  took  the 
town,  their  loss  being  six,  while  the  Spaniards  lost 
150  men,  200  wounded,  and  18  prisoners.  The 
Americans  fought  with  great  caution  and  our 
men  were  allowed  to  take  no  risks;  also  that  our 
landing  would  only  be  made  when  there  was  com- 
paratively no  danger,  and  I  suppose  we  will  be 
landed  last  after  the  regulars.  Allen  and  I  are 
enjoying  the  best  of  health  and  have  not  been  at 
all  sea-sick;  although  we  have  been  through  sev- 
eral storms.  To-day  during  a  thunder  storm 
a  water  spout  passed  about  two  miles  to  star- 
board, and  was  a  fine  sight.  We  are  both  enjoy- 
ing ourselves  immensely,  and  as  we  land  in  a  very 
mountainous  country  there  is  little  or  no  danger 
of  our  being  sick,  and  if  we  do  get  sick  we  will 
be  put  aboard  the  Olivette  and  taken  either  to 


Two  Rough  Riders.  7 

Tampa  or  Key  West.  The  sanitary  arrangements 
are  good;  everything  cleaned  every  morning  and 
disinfectant  spread  around.  There  is  very  little 
sickness  in  the  morning,  mostly  colds  and  sea-sick- 
ness. 

No  one  expects  the  war  to  last  more  than  a 
few  months,  so  you  must  expect  us  back  by  fall. 
We  will  take  the  best  possible  care  of  ourselves, 
and  I  think  we  should  both  return  all  right.  I 
hope  that  you  are  very  well,  and  will  not  worry 
about  us  as  we  are  all  well  and  safe,  and  as  we 
have  good  commanders  I  do  not  think  we  will  be  in 
much  danger. 

With  lots  of  love  to  my  dear  father  and  many, 
many  kisses, 

Your  loving  son, 

KIEK. 


NINE  MILES  FROM  SANTIAGO. 

June  25,  1898. 

MY  DEAR  FATHER  : — We  landed  at  a  small  min- 
ing settlement  Wednesday  morning  after  the  gun- 
boats and  Indiana  had  shelled  the  place  for  two 
hours  and  driven  the  Spaniards  to  the  moun- 
tains, camped  there  over  night  and  marched  ten 
miles  Thursday  evening  to  another  coast  town 
which  the  Spaniards  left  that  morning  after  a 


8  Two  Rough  Riders. 

fight  with  a  Cuban  regiment  and  our  gun-boats. 
Yesterday  morning  we  made  a  forced  march  from 
five  until  seven  o'clock  when  we  ran  into  an  am- 
bush. The  Spaniards  were  very  strongly  placed, 
but  after  two  hours'  fighting  of  the  hardest  kind 
we  routed  them  and  are  now  camped  on  their 
stronghold.  Our  troop  had  the  extreme  left  of  our 
advance  skirmish  line  and  with  "L"  troop  (the 
extreme  right)  bore  the  brunt  of  the  work. 

In  our  fighting  squad  of  ten  men  five  were 
wounded  (two  mortally)  and  one  killed;  the  man 
on  my  right  was  shot  through  the  lungs  and  second 
man  on  my  left  was  killed,  so  you  can  see  how 
hot  the  fighting  was.  The  Spaniards  left  two 
wagon  loads  of  ammunition  and  all  sorts  of  sup- 
plies and  clothing.  We  lost  everything,  but  after 
a  long  hunt  yesterday  afternoon  and  evening 
found  all  our  things  and  are  now  comfortably 
fixed  in  our  tent.  Howard  has  not  joined  us,  and 
we  believe  his  troop  is  still  at  Tampa.  We  had 
our  burial  service  this  morning.  They  say  the 
Spaniards  left  four  hundred  dead,  but  the  exact 
number  has  not  been  determined  as  we  are  too 
busy  gathering  our  own  dead  and  wounded. 

Several  regiments  have  gone  ahead  of  us  to- 
wards Santiago  so  our  next  fight  will  not  be  so 
severe  with  our  regiment.  We  have  only  one 
envelope,  so  will  you  please  mail  the  enclosed  let- 


Two  Rough  Riders.  9 

ters  to  the  addresses  on  them?    We  expect  San- 
tiago to  surrender  soon,  and  will  then  be  home  in 
a  few  months.     The  marching  is  very  hard  work 
and  we  have  dispensed  with  all  unnecessary  articles 
and  cut  our  blankets  to  make  our  packs  lighter. 
With  love  and  hoping  to  be  home  soon, 
Your  loving  son, 

ALLEN. 


NEAR  SANTIAGO. 
June  25,  1898. 

MY  DEAR  FATHER: — Yesterday  was  my  birth- 
day, and  I  had  a  novel  present.  About  seven 
o'clock  after  marching  since  five  over  mountains, 
we  ran  into  about  four  or  five  thousand  Spaniards 
strongly  placed,  with  a  rapid  fire  gun  on  a  high 
mountain.  Our  troop  is  the  second  troop  in  ad- 
vance, and  when  the  fire  opened  we  deployed  as 
skirmishers  to  the  left,  and  encountered  the 
Spaniards  in  a  block  house  and  an  open  field, 
with  our  advance  covered  by  their  rapid  fire  gun 
on  the  distant  hill. 

We  fought  for  two  hours  and  a  half  and  drove 
the  Spaniards  from  their  position,  and  are  now 
encamped  on  their  ground.  The  Spaniards  left 
their  provisions  and  killed,  and  retreated  to  San- 
tiago. Allen  and  I  escaped  without  a  scratch,  al- 


10  Two  Rough  Riders. 

though  five  men  in  our  squad  were  wounded  and 
one  killed  within  ten  yards  of  us.  In  the  two 
troops  that  were  in  the  front,  there  were  nine  killed 
and  sixty  wounded.  We  have  just  had  the  funer- 
al, and  are  now  about  nine  miles  from  Santiago, 
and  for  awhile  will  take  our  position  in  the  rear. 
In  the  first  volley  I  had  my  hat  knocked  off,  also 
my  bugle  and  haversack.  I  will  keep  these  things 
as  they  are  curiosities.  We  are  both  well  and  hav- 
ing a  good  time.  When  you  write  will  you  please 
enclose  some  money,  as  we  have  none  and  need  it, 
as  rations  are  scarce,  and  we  need  money 
for  food.  Mail  two  letters  with  some  in  each,  we 
will  then  be  sure  of  one.  I  hope  you  are  well 
and  having  a  good  summer. 

With  much  love  and  very  many  kisses, 
Your  loving  son, 

KIRK. 


SANTIAGO  NINE  MILES, 

June  28,  1898. 

MY  DEAR  FATHER: — Day  before  yesterday 
(Sunday)  we  marched  five  miles,  and  are  now 
encamped  nine  miles  from  Santiago.  This 
is  a  fine  location  for  a  camp — water  within 
a  hundred  yards  and  a  good  open  field  free 
from  brush  for  our  tents.  The  creek  is  about  the 
size  of  Pike  Creek  (that  runs  through  our  farm) 


Two  Rough  Riders.  n 

and  is  lined  on  both  sides  by  fine  shade  trees. 
We  are  liable  to  camp  here  some  time  as  the 
roads  are  only  about  three  feet  wide,  and  have 
to  be  widened  in  order  to  bring  up  the  artillery 
and  siege  guns.  Spies  are  captured  every  day, 
and  the  troops  send  out  scouting  parties  con- 
tinually. This  is  the  garden  spot  of  Cuba  and 
a  finer  country  I  never  saw.  There  are  moun- 
tains all  round  us  covered  with  cocoanut  and 
mango  trees,  with  a  few  pineapple  and  limes 
scattered  here  and  there.  Mango  is  a  fruit  about 
the  size  of  a  large  pear,  and  when  boiled  in 
sugar  makes  a  fine  jelly.  It  is  very  good  either 
raw  or  fried,  and  serves  as  a  substitute  for  butter. 
The  siege  guns  and  artillery  will  do  the  brunt  of 
the  work  at  Santiago,  and  we  expect  to  occupy  the 
town  before  a  month  passes.  Our  daily  shower 
is  coming  up,  so  I  will  close.  We  met  Eichard 
Harding  Davis  yesterday  and  had  quite  a  talk 
with  him. 

With  love.  Your  loving  son, 

ALLEX. 


Please  save  the  accounts  of  Friday's  engage- 
ment for  us.  Davis  is  writing  a  monthly  ac- 
count for  Scribner's  or  Harper's,  which  also 
please  keep.  Please  remail  the  enclosed  letters. 


12  Two  Rough  Riders. 

June  28,  1898. 

DEAREST  FATHER  : — As  Allen  has  told  you  about 
our  camp  I  will  tell  you  about  the  food.  Every 
day  rations  are  issued  consisting  of  a  large  slice 
of  bacon  and  fat,  two  spoonfuls  of  sugar  and  the 
same  of  coffee,  one-tenth  of  a  pound  can  of 
tomatoes,  and  fifteen  hardtack,  which  is  plenty,  so 
we  are  faring  finely.  We  have  become  experienced 
cooks,  and  have  several  varieties  of  things — man- 
go boiled  in  sugar,  which  is  fine  and  like  apple 
sauce;  fried  in  sugar,  it  is  like  sweet  potatoes; 
we  also  have  hardtack  fried  in  bacon  grease  which 
is  about  as  good  as  anything  toasted,  we  also  soak 
about  four  hardtack  in  water  until  it  is  dough,  add 
salt,  then  mix  in  coffee,  fry  in  bacon  grease,  put  a 
little  sugar  on  top  and  enjoy  it  to  its  full  extent ;  so 
you  see  we  have  all  varieties  to  eat. 

We  are  both  in  fine  health,  and  are  having  a 
good  time,  and  as  we  have  come  through  about  as 
hot  a  fight  as  possible,  there  is  now  every  chance 
of  our  coming  home  soon.  I  never  thought  we 
could  do  what  we  have  done.  Those  marches  were 
pretty  tough  and  lots  of  strong  men  gave  out.  Our 
load  was  pretty  heavy.  We  carry  our  pajamas, 
underclothes  and  other  articles  rolled  in  a  heavy 
blanket  which  is  rolled  in  a  half  tent  and  covered 
by  a  rubber  blanket ;  this  goes  over  our  shoulders. 


Two  Rough  Riders.  13 

We  have  a  carbine,  one  hundred  rounds  of  ammu- 
nition in  a  belt,  a  canteen,  a  haversack  with  three 
days'  rations  (generally),  and  axe,  pick  or  shovel, 
which  is  a  pretty  good  load  to  carry  four  or  five 
miles  in  the  hot  sun,  but  we  both  stand  it  well 
and  feel  all  the  better  for  it  at  night,  when  we 
sleep  like  rocks.  We  get  up  at  four  thirty,  break- 
fast at  five,  dinner  at  noon,  supper  at  five  or 
six,  and  in  bed  by  nine  o'clock;  we  have  a  nice 
place  to  bathe  and  wash  our  clothes,  and  if  we 
are  only  fixed  like  this  always  we  will  return  in 
good  health,  although  not  quite  so  fat. 

I  hope  that  you  are  very  well  and  will  take  a 
good  rest  during  the  summer  whenever  you  can, 
and  when  we  come  back  we  can  all  enjoy  the  farm 
more  than  ever.  With  lots  of  love  to  my  dear 
father,  and  many  kisses  and  wishes  for  his  good 
health,  I  am  Your  loving  son, 

KIRK. 


NEAR  SANTIAGO. 

June  29,  1898. 

MY  DEAR  FATHER: — We  wrote  you  yesterday, 
but  forgot  to  mention  about  our  shoes.  Will  you 
please  send  us  each  a  pair  of  heavy  russet  shoes? 
Kirk  wishes  his  half  a  size  larger  than  the  last 
pair  he  bought  from  Miles,  but  I  would  like  mine 


14  Two  Rough  Riders. 

the  same  size.  Do  not  send  high  boots,  as  they  are 
too  hot  and  heavy  with  our  leggings  over  them. 
We  have  to  wear  leggings  to  protect  ourselves 
from  the  heavy  brush  and  thickets  we  travel 
through.  Have  leather  strings  put  in,  also  sev- 
eral extra  pair  of  strings  and  one  tooth  brush.  The 
only  way  you  can  possibly  get  them  here  is  by 
mail,  so  please  put  a  pair  in  a  box,  as  two  pair  in 
one  box  would  be  too  heavy  for  mailing.  There 
is  a  rumor  here  to-night  of  an  armistice,  and  if 
that  is  so  of  course  do  not  send  the  shoes.  Please 
do  not  send  us  the  clothes  you  said  you  would 
order  as  we  do  not  wish  them  until  we  reach  the 
States.  The  size  of  the  leggings  is  No.  1  army 
leggings  to  match  the  cloth  in  the  suit.  The  suit 
consists  of  trousers,  leggings  and  blue  army  shirt. 
Kirk  wishes  trumpeter  stripes  on  trousers  (two 
stripes  about  one-eighth  inch  apart,  stripes  one- 
quarter  inch  broad,  and  a  yellow  bugle  on  the  blue 
shirt  on  each  arm  half  way  between  the  elbow  and 
shoulder.  Please  have  the  clothes  made  and  keep 
for  us.  When  we  return  we  will  probably  stay  at 
Tampa  some  time,  and  will  get  you  to  send  them 
there.  These  are  the  same  clothes  we  spoke  to 
you  about  at  Tampa.  None  of  the  men  have  coats, 
and  if  you  have  not  already  ordered  them  do  not 
do  so. 
With  much  love,  Your  loving  son, 

ALLEN". 


Two  Rough  Riders.  15 

June  29,  1898. 

DEAREST  FATHEE: — Unless  there  is  a  prospect 
of  our  immediate  return,  you  had  better  send  the 
shoes,  as  we  will  need  them  badly.  If  possible  put 
a  package  of  tea  in  each  shoe,  as  it  is  quite  a  change 
from  coffee;  would  be  glad  if  you  would  send  the 
shoes  and  undershirts  (two  apiece) ;  no  drawers, 
as  we  have  them. 

Your  loving  son, 

KIRK. 

P.  S. — The  leggings  are  cavalry  leggings  and 
reach  about  four  inches  below  the  knee. 

KIRK. 


NEAR  SANTIAGO. 

July    5,    1898. 

MY  DEAR  FATHER: — Since  writing  to  you  we 
have  moved  on  to  Santiago  and  have  had  three 
days'  fighting,  and  a  two-days'  truce  has  been  de- 
clared which  terminates  at  ten  o'clock  to-day.  Our 
forces  are  working  their  way  into  Santiago  al- 
though there  have  been  quite  a  number  killed  and 
wounded,  but  the  Spaniards  killed  are  by  far  great- 
er and  our  men  are  advancing  steadily  every  day. 
Allen  and  I  are  both  unhurt,  although  our  regi- 
ment has  been  to  the  front  from  the  first,  and  I 
think  Santiago  will  surrender  in  a  day  or  so.  Yes- 


16  Two  Rough  Riders. 

terday  Sampson  sunk  four  and  captured  one  of 
the  Spanish  war  ships  without  losing  a  man,  while 
the  Spanish  loss  was  large.  After  the  fall  of 
Santiago,  I  believe  we  go  to  Porto  Eico  to  finish 
the  Spaniards  there,  and  then  we  will  be  home 
again  with  you.  I  do  hope  you  are  taking  care  of 
yourself  and  will  not  get  sick,  for  when  we  come 
home  we  want  to  find  our  dear  father  well,  so 
that  we  can  have  a  good  rest  with  him  at  the  farm. 
Allen  will  write  to  you  soon  and  will  tell  you  all 
the  news.  I  hope  you  are  not  worrying  about 
us,  as  we  are  both  well  and  enjoying  ourselves  as 
much  as  possible. 

I  would  write  more  to  you  now  but  I  have  not  the 
time,  but  will  write  a  long  letter  to  you  from  San- 
tiago. Good-bye,  dear  papa,  and  remember  about 
your  health. 

Your  own  loving  son, 

KIRK. 

P.  S. — We  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Jamison 
to-day. 

KIRK. 


OUTSKIRTS  OF  SANTIAGO,  CUBA. 

July  7,  1898. 

MY  DEAB  FATHER: — We  are  lying  on  a  hill  in 
front  of  Santiago  with  the  Spanish  rifle  pits  two 


Two  Rough  Riders.  17 

hundred  yards  in  front  on  another  hill.  The 
town  is  in  plain  view,  and  is  a  very  pretty  place 
where  we  expect  to  have  a  good  time,  if  they  do  not 
burn  it  before  we  get  in.  Last  Thursday,  June 
30th,  we  broke  camp  and  marched  three  miles  to 
a  block  house  near  a  large  hill.  There  we  camped 
over  night,  and  the  next  morning  the  battle  opened 
at  half  past  six.  We  were  under  cover  of  one  of 
our  batteries  for  fifteen  minutes,  and  were  then 
marched  two  miles  and  proceeded  to  take  a  strong 
position  on  a  steep  hill.  After  firing  from  the 
woods  for  an  hour,  we  charged  up  the  hill  and  the 
Spaniards  retreated  to  another  fortified  hill  three 
hundred  yards  towards  Santiago.  After  firing  on 
them  for  another  half  hour  we  charged  the  next 
hill,  and  the  Spaniards  again  retreated  to  a  hill 
further  towards  the  town.  This  continued  all  day 
and  was  very  hard  work,  several  boys  being  sun- 
struck  and  exhausted  by  the  heat.  Our  loss  was 
heavy,  but  we  escaped  without  a  scratch  except 
those  made  by  the  "Spanish  needles"  (a  sort  of 
cactus)  and  wire  fences.  We  took  a  strong  posi- 
tion at  dusk  and  remained  there  that  night  dig- 
ging trenches  and  rifle  pits.  Saturday  the  Span- 
iards opened  fire  at  dawn  hoping  to  drive  us  from 
our  position,  but  we  held  the  hill  and  are  still  here. 
Ever  since  Saturday  we  have  been  digging  pits  and 
making  bomb  proofs.  The  Spaniards  have  had 


18  Two  Rough  Riders. 

a  flag  of  truce  up  for  the  last  three  days,  and  no- 
body knows  when  the  battle  will  open.  Hobson 
was  exchanged  yesterday,  and  we  are  all  hoping 
the  Spaniards  will  surrender  to-day.  They  cannot 
retreat  any  further,  and  if  we  advance  three  hun- 
dred yards  we  will  be  in  the  town. 

I  hope  you  are  well.  Please  do  not  worry 
about  us  as  we  take  the  best  of  care,  and  hope  to 
be  home  in  time  to  eat  Christmas  dinner  with  you 
at  the  farm.  The  day  the  battle  opened  we  piled 
our  stuff  in  the  road  and  left  a  guard  over  it. 
He  was  hit  by  a  piece  of  a  shell,  and  was  taken  to 
the  hospital,  and  two  days  afterward  when  some 
of  our  troop  went  back,  all  our  bundles  had  been 
opened,  and  most  of  our  things  stolen.  We  found 
two  of  Kirk's  razors  and  a  bundle  of  letters,  which 
is  all  we  have  left  except  two  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania jerseys.  We  have  since  got  hold  of 
blankets  and  ponchos  (rubber  blankets),  and  are 
pretty  comfortable.  None  of  our  boys  have  tents, 
but  we  could  not  put  them  up  if  we  had  them,  so 
they  are  not  missed  much.  Our  chief  surgeon  re- 
ceived a  letter  from  Dr.  Adler  and  I  had  quite  a 
talk  with  him  yesterday.  Eichard  Harding  Davis 
is  with  us,  and  is  a  very  interesting  man.  He 
always  has  a  large  audience,  and  seems  to  enjoy 
talking  to  the  boys.  We  are  in  the  pits  from  six 
to  ten  hours  a  day,  and  there  are  many  anxious 


Two  Rough  Riders.  19 

eyes  watching  the  flag  of  trace  all  day.     I  have  to 
go  on  guard  soon,  so  will  close. 
With  much  love, 

Your  loving  son, 

ALLEN. 


SANTIAGO,  CUBA. 

July  8,  1898. 

MY  DEAR  FATHER: — The  Spaniards  have  until 
to-morrow  at  noon  to  surrender,  and  the  impres- 
sion is  they  will  give  up  without  any  more  useless 
resistance.  They  asked  for  truce  until  to-morrow 
in  order  to  confer  with  Blanco  in  Havana.  It  is 
said  the  Spanish  Volunteers  have  refused  to  go 
into  their  rifle  pits,  and  the  regulars  are  on  the 
point  of  mutiny.  Women  and  children  have  been 
coming  through  our  lines  for  the  last  few  days, 
and  they  say  every  house  is  filled  with  Spanish 
wounded  and  dead.  We  have  been  working  very 
hard  at  night  ever  since  we  have  been  camped  here, 
digging  rifle  pits  and  making  those  already  dug 
more  bullet  proof.  Last  night  we  dug  pits  from 
ten  until  twelve,  and  then  guarded  a  finished  pit 
until  four  this  morning,  when  we  were  relieved 
until  four  this  afternoon.  It  is  hard  to  keep 
awake  as  we  are  not  allowed  to  say  a  word.  In 
the  day  time  we  can  see  the  Spaniards  changing 
guard,  so  you  can  imagine  how  close  we  are  to 


20  Two  Rough  Riders. 

their  lines.  The  sky  is  black  with  buzzards  and  we 
send  out  searching  parties  every  day  to  look  for 
dead  Spaniards,  and  bury  them  as  quickly  as  pos- 
sible in  order  to  keep  the  camp  healthy.  One  of 
our  troop  who  was  sent  back  on  an  errand  found 
our  U.  of  P.  jerseys  and  flag  and  our  letters  and 
diary,  so  we  consider  ourselves  lucky,  as  most  of 
the  boys  lost  everything  they  had.  We  owe  our 
fraternity  at  the  University  some  dues  on  the  first 
of  August,  but  have  forgotten  the  exact  amount. 
Will  you  please  get  Lovett  to  write  to  Warren  P. 
Humphreys,  Bryn  Mawr,  Penna.,  and  he  will  either 
call  at  the  office  or  write  you  the  amount.  We  for- 
got about  this  until  the  other  day.  He  has  been  in 
the  office  several  times,  and  will  explain  to  you  how 
much  we  owe.  I  have  not  found  an  envelope  in 
which  to  mail  this,  and  expect  to  have  quite  a 
hunt,  as  they  are  very  scarce,  and  those  the  boys 
have  are  stuck  together  and  otherwise  dilapidated. 
Please  remail  the  enclosed  letter  to  the  address  on 
the  first  page,  and  when  you  write  again  enclose  a 
few  envelopes  and  sheets  of  paper,  as  we  have  but 
three  sheets  left  and  cannot  get  any  at  present. 
With  much  love, 

Your  loving  son, 

ALLEN. 


Two  Rough  Riders.  21 

NEAR  SANTIAGO. 
July  8,  1898. 

MY  DEAREST  FATHER: — Allen  and  I  are  both 
very  well,  and  have  come  through  this  fight  without 
a  scratch.  I  hardly  think  there  will  be  much 
more  fighting,  as  there  has  been  a  truce  since  last 
Sunday,  and  there  is  a  report  of  the  foreign  powers 
interfering,  as  the  Spaniards  have  violated  most 
all  international  laws  by  firing  on  and  killing  Eed 
Cross  men  carrying  stretchers,  and  have  used 
explosive  bullets,  also  have  fired  out  of  their  own 
hospitals,  and  have  fired  from  under  the  white 
flag.  Every  one  is  hoping  that  the  war  will  soon  be 
over.  At  Siboney  where  our  hospital  is  there  is 
quite  a  town,  also  a  post  office  and  commissary 
store.  They  have  about  twenty-five  large  tents,  and 
about  five  houses  where  the  wounded  are  cared  for, 
and  to-day  I  believe  they  are  sending  the  sick  and 
wounded  back  to  the  States. 

Our  men  are  entrenched  all  around  Santiago, 
and  have  the  Spaniards  completely  hemmed  in,  so 
that  there  is  no  hope  for  them  but  to  surrender. 
A  good  many  have  already  surrendered;  just 
simply  marched  in  and  laid  down  their  arms. 
The  other  evening  Hobson  passed  through  Siboney 
on  his  way  to  our  ships,  and  as  I  was  in  the  town 
that  night  I  had  the  opportunity  of  shaking  hands 
with  him. 


22  Two  Rough  Riders. 

There  is  no  fighting  going  on  to-day,  and  the 
truce  is  extended  day  by  day.  I  do  not  know  why, 
as  there  are  so  many  rumors  that  it  is  hard  to 
believe  any. 

We  hope  that  you  are  very  well,  and  are  not 
working  too  hard  nor  worrying  about  us,  for  we  are 
all  right,  and  will  soon  be  home  again  with  you. 
Allen  will  write  at  the  first  opportunity,  and 
sends  his  love  to  you,  with  much  love  for  my  dear 
father,  and  many,  many  kisses, 

Your  loving  son, 

KIRK. 

P.  S. — We  will  both  write  as  soon  as  we  reach 
another  town.  Good-bye,  dear  papa.  I  am  sure  we 
will  soon  be  home  again  with  you,  and  we  will 
both  enjoy  all  the  more  the  pleasures  you  have 
gained  for  us.  Hoping  you  are  very  well,  with  lots 
of  love  from  Your  loving  son, 

KIRK. 


SANTIAGO  DE  CUBA. 

July  20,  1898. 

MY  DEAR  FATHER: — After  writing  you  several 
days  ago,  we  broke  camp  and  recamped  on  another 
part  of  the  entrenchments  three  miles  to  the  right. 
Sunday,  17th,  the  Spaniards  stacked  their  arms 


Two  Rough  Riders.  23 

and  the  American  flag  was  raised  over  Santiago. 
All  the  regiments  were  lined  along  the  pits,  and 
when  the  salute  was  fired,  there  was  great  cheer- 
ing and  enthusiasm.  Your  mail  has  gone  astray, 
as  we  have  not  received  a  letter  from  you  since  leav- 
ing Tampa.  Mr.  Jamison  has  written  us  five  or 
six  letters,  and  we  have  heard  from  several  other 
friends,  also  one  from  Lew.  Monday  we  moved 
again  and  are  now  encamped  five  miles  from  San- 
tiago, on  the  best  camping  ground  we  have  had. 
There  is  a  high  hill  close  by,  surmounted  by  a 
Spanish  block  house.  From  the  top  of  the  hill  we 
can  get  a  fine  view  of  Santiago  and  the  entire  har- 
bor which  is  now  filled  with  our  transports  and  sup- 
ply ships.  We  have  lost  two  men  from  our  troop 
and  a  great  many  are  on  their  way  to  the  States 
suffering  from  wounds  and  sickness,  but  we  are  feel- 
ing first  rate  and  in  good  condition.  Seventy  men 
left  Tampa  with  our  troop — the  other  day  at  roll 
call  thirty-eight  reported  for  duty.  The  non  com- 
batants have  been  going  into  Santiago  since  Sun- 
day and  some  of  the  people  look  hardly  able  to  walk. 
The  children  are  naked  and  about  half  the  people 
are  barefooted.  There  are  a  few  respectable-look- 
ing people  who  have  managed  to  keep  their  horses 
and  carriages,  but  they  all  have  a  hungry  look  and 
seem  glad  the  Spaniards  have  been  defeated. 
There  is  a  rumor  that  we  are  going  to  the  States 


24  Two  Rough  Riders. 

soon,  but  you  will  probably  know  our  destination 
before  we  do.  One  of  the  boys  received  some  pa- 
per from  home  and  gave  us  this  sheet  and  en- 
velope. With  love.  Your  loving  son, 

ALLEN. 


July  20,  1898. 

MY  DEAE  FATHER  : — We  have  been  looking  every 
day  for  a  letter  from  you,  but  have  not  received 
any  since  leaving  Tampa,  although  we  have  re- 
ceived several  from  Mr.  Jamison  and  some  girls, 
also  one  from  Lou.  Will  you  tell  him  to  write 
again,  as  we  cannot  write  to  him  on  account  of  hav- 
ing no  paper  or  pencil.  We  are  camped  now  about 
ten  miles  from  Santiago,  in  a  very  pretty  camp. 
It  is  reported  that  we  are  here  for  quarantine,  and 
that  we  will  either  return  to  the  States  or  Porto 
Eico.  The  condition  of  the  regiment  is  not  good ; 
yesterday  there  were  one  hundred  and  fifteen  men 
on  the  sick  report,  which  is  not  very  good,  as  there 
are  only  about  three  hundred  and  fifty  men  in  the 
regiment. 

Every  one  in  camp  seems  to  think  that  the  war  is 
almost  over,  although  it  is  very  doubtful,  but  every 
one  would  be  glad  to  receive  the  news  of  Spain's 
surrender,  as  the  life  here  has  been  very  hard.  Now 
we  are  getting  a  good  rest,  and  both  Allen  and  I 


Two  Rough  Riders.  25 

are  in  fine  health.  When  we  were  before  Santiago 
the  work  in  the  trenches  was  pretty  hard,  every 
man  having  to  stand  six  hours'  watch  in  the  day  or 
night  and  one  night  two-thirds  of  the  troop  were  in 
the  pit  from  6:30  in  the  evening  until  6:30  the 
next  day,  and  all  that  time  the  rain  came  down  in 
torrents,  but  after  drying  out  and  getting  some 
sleep,  we  felt  all  right  again,  so  I  guess  we  are 
pretty  healthy. 

When  you  write  to  Lou  tell  him  we  have  received 
his  letter  and  tell  him  to  write  again;  you  must 
have  written  to  us,  but  we  have  heard  nothing  from 
you.  I  hope  you  are  well  and  not  working  too  hard. 
We  both  hope  to  be  home  soon,  and  hope  to  find 
you  well.  We  are  both  in  good  health,  and  take 
good  care  of  ourselves.  With  love  to  all  and  lots 
of  love  to  you  and  many  kisses, 
Your  loving  son, 

KIRK. 


NEAR  SANTIAGO, 
SANTIAGO  DE  CUBA,  CUBA. 

July  24,  1898. 

MY  OWN  DEAR  FATHER  : — We  had  quite  a  sur- 
prise to-day  when  we  received  your  very  welcome 
letter,  as  it  is  the  first  that  we  have  received  from 


26  Two  Rough  Riders. 

you  since  landing,  although  we  have  written,  once, 
twice,  and  sometimes  more  every  week. 

The  money  was  safe  and  we  were  really  in  need 
of  it,  as  we  had  to  borrow  a  dollar  and  a  half,  which 
we  have  paid.  We  are  now  about  four  miles  from 
Santiago,  and  can  buy  many  delicacies  and  some 
souvenirs  also ;  but  more  important  than  all,  clothes 
when  we  need  them.  For  a  day  or  so  my  shoes 
were  pretty  bad,  but  some  one  gave  me  a  bag  of 
tobacco,  which  I  traded  for  a  pair  of  shoes;  the 
tobacco  was  worth  twenty  cents,  and  the  shoes 
probably  three  dollars,  as  they  are  good  and  strong 
and  durable,  although  not  water-tight.  During 
the  fight,  tobacco  advanced  to  ten  dollars  for  an 
ordinary  twenty-cent  bag,  and  other  things  ac- 
cordingly, but  now  our  fighting  is  over  and  we  are 
getting  a  much-needed  rest  back  in  the  mountains, 
and  every  one  is  hoping  to  be  back  again  in  the 
States  in  the  near  future. 

There  is  a  great  deal  of  tropical  fever,  but  it 
only  lasts  for  a  week  or  so,  and  then  one  is  as  well 
as  ever.  As  yet  no  one  in  our  regiment  has  had 
either  small-pox  or  yellow  fever,  and  we  seem  to 
be,  as  a  whole,  pretty  healthy.  Of  course  the  sun 
knocks  out  the  strongest,  yet  Allen  and  I  are  still 
well,  and  will  continue  so  as  long  as  possible.  We 
have  met  Dr.  Church,  and  he  told  us  to  come  at 
once  to  him  whenever  we  felt  the  slightest  sick- 


Two  Rough  Riders.  27 

ness,  which  we  will  certainly  do.  Our  stomach 
bands  have  been  worn  night  and  day,  and  I  guess 
that  accounts  for  our  good  health. 

We  have  not  as  yet  received  our  boxes,  but  will 
look  for  them;  we  received  Lew's  letter  a  day  or 
so  ago,  and  now  that  we  have  paper  we  will  write 
to  him  at  once;  Mr.  Jamison  has  been  exceeding- 
ly good  to  us,  as  we  have  received  at  least  two 
dozen  letters  from  him — five  to-day — and  every 
one  is  full  of  interest  and  good  news,  and  are  al- 
ways welcomely  received. 

If  either  one  of  us  gets  sick  we  will  wire  you 
from  Santiago,  which  will  be  easy,  as  Lieutenant 
Keyes,  now  an  adjutant,  seems  to  take  a  personal 
interest  in  both  of  us.  He  is  a  fine  fellow,  and 
does  everything  he  can  for  us. 

Do  not  wait  long,  dear  papa,  before  writing  to 
us,  as  we  like  to  hear  just  how  you  are,  and  we  do 
not  know  whether  you  are  sick  or  well,  if  you 
do  not  write.  Every  letter  will  be  as  welcome  as 
the  one  we  waited  over  a  month  for.  The  mail  is 
pretty  sure  to  be  delivered  now,  as  it  comes  direct 
to  Santiago. 

I  forgot  to  tell  you  that  Captain  Luna  was  on 
the  staff  of  Colonel  Wood,  who  is  Governor  Gen- 
eral of  Santiago  de  Cuba. 

Sergeant  Sherman  was  taken  sick  June  25th, 
and  sent  home,  and  we  have  not  heard  from  him. 


28  Two  Rough  Riders. 

I  must  close  now,  dear  papa,  hoping  that  you 
are  well,  and  will  not  work  hard  during  the  hot 
months,  and  will  take  good  care  of  yourself.  With 
lots  of  love  and  kisses,  from  your 

Loving  son, 

KIRK. 


NEAR  SANTIAGO,  CUBA. 

July  25,  1898. 

MY  DEAR  FATHER: — Yesterday  was  a  most 
eventful  day.  We  received  a  large  amount  of 
back  mail,  including  your  welcome  letter  and  five 
letters  from  Mr.  Jamison,  besides  letters  from 
several  friends.  Our  chaplain  was  able  to  hold 
services  for  the  first  time  since  leaving  Tampa 
and  our  regiment  was  supplied  with  fresh  beef, 
the  first  we  have  tasted  for  over  a  month.  As 
Kirk  has  told  you,  we  have  met  Dr.  Church,  and 
he  has  given  us  several  doses  of  quinine,  which  I 
think  has  been  a  great  help  in  keeping  us  free 
from  fever.  Mr.  Garrison  we  have  not  met, 
but  will  make  his  acquaintance  to-day.  Kich- 
ard  Harding  Davis  is  with  the  regiment,  and  has 
given  us  several  interesting  talks.  The  official 
surrender  was  last  Monday.  On  Sunday  we  broke 
camp  and  marched  about  five  miles  back  in  the 
country,  where  the  ground  is  higher  and  water 


Two  Rough  Riders.  29 

purer.  We  are  now  five  miles  from  Santiago  and 
several  troopers  are  sent  in  every  day  for  supplies. 
Our  turn  will  come  soon,  and  we  will  write  you 
of  the  city.  The  stores  are  open,  and  we  will  be 
able  to  buy  necessities.  Tobacco  has  been  very 
much  in  demand,  and  I  saw  a  man  pay  five  dol- 
lars for  a  small  package.  Last  Sunday  Kirk 
traded  a  small  bag  of  "Durham"  for  a  new  pair 
of  government  shoes.  General  Wood  is  Governor 
General  of  the  Province  of  Santiago  de  Cuba,  and 
has  his  headquarters  in  Santiago.  Captain  Luna 
is  on  his  staff  as  interpreter,  and  our  troop  is 
under  Lieutenant  Ferguson,  of  K  troop,  as  Lieu- 
tenant Keys  is  now  adjutant,  and  Lieutenant  Has- 
kell,  our  second  lieutenant,  is  in  the  hospital. 
He  was  shot  during  the  first  day's  fight  before 
Santiago. 

Sergeant  Damie,  of  E  troop,  was  promoted  to 
second  lieutenant  of  our  troop,  but  he  is  in  the 
hospital  with  malarial  fever  and  as  Sergeant  Sher- 
man is  on  his  way  home,  we  are  without  officers. 
Macllhenny  has  been  promoted  to  a  sergeant,  and 
the  boys  expect  him  to  be  made  a  lieutenant  very 
soon,  as  he  is  popular,  and  understands  tactics 
thoroughly.  We  have  written  you  often,  but  as 
the  mail  service  is  poor,  expect  you  have  not  re- 
ceived all  our  letters.  The  postmaster  at  Sib- 
oney  died  with  a  fever  a  few  weeks  ago  and  some- 


30  Two  Rough  Riders. 

one  ordered  the  mail,  both  incoming  and  out- 
going, burned.  There  has  been  a  great  deal  of 
trouble  about  it,  as  it  could  have  been  disinfected 
and  sent  without  any  risk.  Everything  has  been 
horribly  mixed  up,  and  our  commissary  has  had 
all  he  could  do  keeping  our  regiment  supplied  with 
food.  Things  are  running  smoother  since  the 
boats  have  been  able  to  unload  at  Santiago,  and 
we  hope  to  get  mail  oftener.  Yesterday  we  were 
ordered  to  -floor  our  tents,  and  parties  composed 
of  three  or  four  men  with  a  "non  com"  were  sent 
out  after  bamboo.  While  going  through  the  woods, 
the  party  we  were  in  unexpectedly  found  a  small 
clearing  covered  with  corn,  lima  beans  and  cu- 
cumbers, and  we  found  enough  corn  and  beans  to 
supply  our  mess.  They  certainly  tasted  good,  as 
we  have  received  no  vegetables  since  leaving  the 
transports,  and  hardtack  and  bacon  become  mo- 
notonous after  a  few  weeks.  There  is  a  steep  hill 
two  hundred  yards  from  camp,  from  the  top  of 
which  we  can  get  a  splendid  view  of  the  entire 
city  and  harbor.  It  is  a  hard  climb,  but  the  view 
pays  for  the  trouble. 

The  Cubans  have  not  been  allowed  to  loot  the 
town,  and  as  a  consequence  threaten  to  make  trou- 
ble. They  have  withdrawn  to  the  hills  and  prom- 
ise to  make  things  lively  if  they  are  not  allowed 
to  do  as  they  please.  A  cable  office  has  been  es- 


Two  Rough  Riders.  31 

tablished  in  Santiago  and  we  will  cable  you  in 
case  either  of  us  is  taken  sick.  Woodbury  Kane, 
lieutenant  of  K  troop,  is  to-day  the  most  popular 
man  in  camp.  His  sister  sent  the  regiment  a  large 
box  of  tobacco  and  several  cases  of  canned  peaches, 
and  they  were  issued  yesterday.  We  received  a 
letter  from  Humphreys,  one  of  the  "frat."  boys. 
He  noticed  on  the  bulletin  board  in  College 
Hall,  Kirk  had  been  promoted  to  the  sophomore 
class.  Our  fraternity  debt  is  about  paid  off,  and 
we  move  into  our  new  house  some  time  next  month. 
Only  one  regiment,  the  Ninth  regulars,  I  think, 
have  been  stationed  in  the  city.  The  others  are 
on  the  foothills  around  the  outskirts.  The  Ninth 
are  quartered  in  the  opera  house  and  are  used  to 
police  the  town.  The  letter  you  enclosed  us  about 
our  clothes  mentioned  "1st  U.  S.  Cavalry."  We 
will  go  over  there  to-day — they  are  camped  near 
us — and  make  arrangements  to  have  the  box  sent 
over  there  in  case  it  miscarries  and  is  taken  to  their 
camp.  A  great  many  letters  miscarry  if  not 
marked  1st  Volunteer  Cavalry,  as  the  1st  Kegu- 
lar  Cavalry  is  in  our  division. 

Please  write  often  and  do  not  work  hard  dur- 
ing the  warm  weather. 

Your  loving  son, 

ALLEN. 


32  Two  Rough  Riders. 

NEAR  SANTIAGO, 
SANTIAGO  DE  CUBA, 

CUBA. 
July  26,  1898. 

DEAR  KYD  :* — We  received  your  very  newsy  let- 
ter all  right,  and  were  very  glad  to  hear  from  you, 
and  hope  you  will  not  be  offended  at  not  hearing 
from  us  sooner,  but  things  are  always  in  con- 
fusion, that  is  until  we  came  to  this  camp,  where 
it  is  pretty  comfortable. 

You  have  heard  all  about  the  scraps,  so  that  it 
is  no  use  writing  about  them,  as  I  could  not  be 
able  to  write  all  I  would  like  to  tell  you  about  Un- 
cle Sam's  hunting  parties.  All  I  can  say  is  that 
they  are  very  interesting  and  exciting.  It  would 
do  you  good  to  be  here  and  see  the  mules;  there 
are  hundreds  of  them — great  big  flop-eared  lanky 
simples,  which  carry  big  packs  of  eatables,  about  a 
hundred  in  a  flock,  without  any  rider  or  bridle, 
but  they  all  follow  a  mare  with  a  bell  around  her 
neck,  and  go  in  single  file,  like  geese.  There  are 
about  five  men  to  a  hundred  mules,  and  they 
travel  in  this  order  everywhere,  even  carrying 
ammunition  into  the  battle,  where  a  good  many 
are  killed,  but  they  face  the  bullets  like  heroes. 
Then  there  are  four,  six,  eight  and  ten-mule  teams 
which  would  delight  you  to  drive;  they  are  all 
*A  Cousin. 


Two  Rough  Riders.  33 

driven  with  one  rein  and  a  lot  of  cussing,  which 
I  guess  you  could  acquire  with  ease  in  this  camp. 

Every  one  is  eagerly  looking  forward  now  to 
coming  home,  as  our  work  on  this  end  of  the 
island  is  over.  Gad,  what  a  time  we  will  have 
when  we  get  home !  And  I  think  I  can  push  the 
chainless  all  the  faster  for  this  spell  off.  How  is 
your  wheel?  Don't  stop  riding,  as  we  will  begin 
riding  again  next  summer. 

The  weather  here  is  very  funny.  The  nights 
are  fine  and  cool,  but  very  dewy,  and  the  breeze 
continues  until  about  ten  o'clock,  then  it  begins 
to  get  beastly  hot  in  the  sun,  but  the  shade  is  al- 
ways pleasant.  About  four  o'clock  it  rains  for 
an  hour,  and  it  knows  how  to  rain  in  this  country, 
too;  then  it  clears  and  remains  cool  the  rest  of 
the  day. 

I  suppose  you  are  having  a  glorious  time  at 
Atlantic,  eating,  drinking  and  swimming;  how  I 
wish  we  could  enjoy  it  with  you!  Yet  I  would 
rather  be  here  if  there's  any  more  scrapping  to  be 
done.  You  ought  to  see  a  battle.  It  would  make 
you  feel  like  about  fifteen  men  all  in  one.  The 
cannons  are  firing  smoke  to  burn,  men  running, 
firing  and  yelling,  and  bugles  blowing;  and  that 
charge  you  have  read  of  up  San  Juan  hill  was  fine ; 
the  whole  cheese  went  up  with  a  whoop  and  drove 
the  greasers  out ;  then  we  picked  them  off  as  they 


34  Two  Rough  Riders. 

tried  to  come  out  of  their  rifle  pits.  Of  course 
they  killed  lots  of  our  men,  but  we  must  have 
killed  three  of  theirs  to  one  of  ours.  They  are 
not  brave,  and  fight  like  the  Indians  you  used  to 
read  of,  hiding  behind  bushes,  up  in  trees,  crawl- 
ing through  grass  and  all  that.  Still,  with  all 
their  fine  work,  we  have  defeated  them,  and  taken 
their  impregnable  city,  which  they  boasted  of  so 
much.  By  the  way,  this  is  Spanish  paper  and 
envelope  I  am  writing  on. 

Must  close  now,  hoping  you  are  Avell  and  having 
a  good  time.    Write  as  often  as  you  can,  and  ad- 
dress us  1st  U.  S.  Vol.  Cavalry,  Troop  F,  Cuba, 
and  they  will  come  all  right.    Love  to  you  and  all. 
Your  loving  cousin, 

KIRK. 


SANTIAGO  DE  CUBA, 

July  30,  1898. 

MY  DEAR  FATHER  : — Your  two  letters,  or  rather 
one  from  you  and  one  from  Lovett,  enclosing 
twenty  dollars,  received.  I  went  into  Santiago 
to-day  as  one  of  a  detail  on  a  commissary  wagon 
and  bought  a  few  articles,  such  as  handkerchiefs, 
shoestrings,  writing  paper,  chocolate  and  con- 
densed milk,  and  it  will  certainly  be  a  pleasant 
change,  as  we  have  needed  these  articles  a  long 


Two  Rough  Riders.  35 

time.  There  is  a  rumor  current  we  will  soon  start 
for  the  States,  but  it  sounds  too  good  to  be  true, 
although  I  do  not  see  of  what  use  we  can  be  here 
after  the  Spanish  prisoners  have  been  sent  home. 
The  officers  are  a  splendid  looking  set  of  men, 
but  the  privates  are  undergrown  and  do  not  look 
as  if  they  could  put  up  much  of  a  fight,  which 
fact  they  demonstrated  a  few  weeks  ago.  Were 
it  not  for  our  daily  rain,  we  could  be  comparatively 
comfortable  here;  as  it  is,  we  are  continually 
wet  during  the  day,  but  manage  to  keep  dry  at 
night,  as  we  have  put  a  floor  in  our  tent,  and 
raised  it  a  few  inches  off  the  ground. 

With  much  love.  Your  loving  son, 

ALLEN. 


NEAR  SANTIAGO, 

CUBA. 

July  30,  1898. 

MY  DEAR  FATHER: — We  have  received  in  all 
twenty  dollars  from  you,  and  thank  you  very 
much;  for  it  is  very  useful  in  getting  articles  of 
food  and  clothing,  which  are  to  be  had  in  Santiago. 
We  buy  cocoa  every  day,  and  it  is  fine  as  a  sub- 
stitute for  coffee,  which  we  have  grown  tired  of. 

There  are  many  rumors  to-night  of  our  re- 
turning to  the  States.  I  hope  it  is  true,  as  we 


36  Two  Rough  Riders. 

are  all  tired  of  this  land  and  climate,  which  is  very 
disagreeable,  for  between  the  heat  and  the  rain 
it  keeps  one  in  a  perpetual  drip;  but  it  does  not 
seem  to  hurt  us,  as  we  are  in  fine  health,  good  ap- 
petites, and  sleep  like  tops.  The  food  now  is  much 
better;  we  get  bread  and  fresh  beef,  potatoes,  to- 
matoes and  onions.  The  other  day  Allen  and  I 
found  a  garden  and  had  a  good  mess  of  corn  and 
lima  beans,  and  now  we  often  buy  corn  and  beans 
from  the  Cubans,  and  so  we  live  pretty  well. 

There  is  not  much  to  write  to  you  about,  as  we 
are  only  lying  here  in  camp  and  doing  nothing. 
Allen  and  I  take  long  walls  every  day  to  keep  in 
health.  I  hope  you  are  well,  and  often  take  a  trip 
down  to  the  shore.  Good  night,  with  love  and 
kisses;  love  to  Lou.  Your  obedient  son, 

KIRK. 

P.  S. — If  you  can,  send  us  money  once  in 
awhile, — it  comes  in  very  handy  for  extras. 

KIRK. 


SANTIAGO  DE  CUBA, 

July  31,  1898. 

MY  DEAE  FATHER: — Nothing  important  has 
happened  since  our  letters  a  few  days  ago,  but 
as  a  great  many  letters  miscarry,  I  will  write  you 
another,  in  case  you  should  not  receive  our  for- 


Two  Rough  Riders.  37 

mer  ones.  Shafter  has  issued  a  notice  to  the 
effect  that  as  soon  as  the  fever  abates,  our  regi- 
ment will  be  transported  to  the  States.  There  is 
a  rumor  to-day  we  will  be  sent  to  Hempstead 
Plains,  Long  Island,  but  some  think  we  will  be 
shipped  to  a  camping  ground  on  the  Maine  Coast. 
The  fever  is  a  malarial  disease,  and  usually  lasts 
about  three  or  four  days;  so  far  we  have  escaped 
and  hope  to  reach  the  States  without  being  on  the 
sick  list.  Mr.  Jamison  mentioned  in  one  of  his 
recent  letters  you  were  trying  to  get  Kirk  a  com- 
mission. 

We  still  have  some  money  left,  as  we  only  buy 
necessities.  Shoes,  stockings  and  blue  top  shirts 
were  issued  yesterday,  and  we  expect  our  new  uni- 
forms and  underwear  in  a  few  days. 

With  love.  Your  loving  son, 

ALLEN. 


38  Two  Rough  Riders. 

DIARY  OF  CUBAN  CAMPAIGN. 

"A" 

The  following  is  a  brief  record  of  the  campaign 
in  Cuba,  as  made  by  F.  Allen  McCurdy  in  his 
diary,  and  leaves  much  to  the  imagination. 

May  26th. — Telegram  from  Col.  Roosevelt  at 
10  A.M.  Left  on  4 :41  P.M.  train  for  Washington. 
Dinner  with  J.  Russell  Young.  10:43  train  for 
New  Orleans. 

May  27th.— Atlanta,  Ga.,  4  P.M.  Arrived  at 
New  Orleans  10:28. 

May  29th. — Arrived  San  Antonio,  Texas, 
7:25  A.M.  Examined  and  sworn  in;  bought  uni- 
form ;  reported  at  stock  yard  at  1  P.M.  ;  assigned 
to  Troop  F,  2nd  Squadron,  Capt.  Luna.  In 
stock  yard  all  afternoon  and  night. 

May  30th.— Left  for  Tampa  at  3:30  A.M.  On 
train  all  day. 

May  31st. — Arrived  at  New  Orleans. 

June  1st. — Left  New  Orleans. 

June  2nd. — Train  all  day  and  stable  guard 
all  night. 

June  3rd. — Arrived  at  Tampa  and  unloaded 
horses. 


F.   ALLEN    McCURDY. 


KIRK    McCURDY. 


Two  Rough  Riders.  39 

June  4th. — Camp. 

June  5th. — Camp. 

June  6th. — Camp.     Slept  on  arms  all  night. 

June  7th. — Paid  off.    Slept  on  E.  E.  tracks. 

June  8th,  4  A.M. — Left  for  Point  Tampa  in 
coal  cars.  Went  aboard  transport  Yucatan  No. 
8,  anchored  in  bay. 

June  9th. — Went  back  to  dock. 

June  10th.— In  bay  all  night. 

June  llth. — Anchored  in  bay. 

June  12th. — Anchored  in  bay. 

June  13th. — Ean  down  bay  three  miles  and 
anchored. 

June  14th.— Started  at  4  P.M.  with  30  trans- 
ports and  4  war  ships. 

June  15th. — At  sea. 

June  16th. — At  sea;  joined  by  more  war  ships. 

June  17th. — At  sea;  sighted  land,  light  house, 
and  islands. 

June  18th.— At  sea. 

June  19th. — At  sea. 

June  20th.— Off  Cuba. 

June  21st. — Off  Santiago;  steamed  thirty  miles 
up  coast;  laid  off  shore  all  balance  of  day. 

June  22nd. — Landed  at  S.  A.  I.  Co.'s  wharf 
twelve  o'clock;  small  settlement  called  Daiquiri; 
fleet  shelled  the  place  and  Spaniards  left;  Cu- 
bans arrived. 


40  Two  Rough  Riders. 

June  23rd. — Siboney;  three  days'  rations; 
forced  march  of  10  miles. 

June  24th. — Forced  march.  5  A.M.,  hattle  Las 
Guasimas;  drove  Spaniards  from  ambush.  7-9 
A.M.,  60  men  of  regiment  wounded  and  killed. 
12  wounded,  1  killed,  2  mortally  wounded  in 
Troop  F.  Camped  over  night  in  battle  ground. 
Assisted  bringing  in  wounded  and  killed. 

June  25th. — Buried  killed;  assisted  carrying 
wounded  to  sea  coast;  light  artillery,  cavalry  and 
infantry  joined  us. 

June  26th. — Marched  five  miles  and  camped 
within  nine  miles  of  Santiago.  On  guard;  as- 
sisted capturing  spies ;  had  long  talk  with  E.  Hard- 
ing Davis. 

June  27th. — Outpost  duty;  assisted  captur- 
ing spies. 

June  28th. — Outpost  duty. 

June  29th. — Camp  duty. 

June  30th. — Broke  camp  and  moved  three 
miles  toward  Santiago;  stationed  directly  behind 
battery. 

July  1st.— Battle  opened  6:30  A.M.  Fighting 
all  day.  Dug  pits  all  night.  Beginning  of  San 
Juan  fight.  Our  troops  suffered  severely. 

July  2nd. — Firing  commenced  at  daylight ;  held 
position  all  day;  brother  had  sunstroke;  assisted 
carrying  him  off  field  to  hospital. 


Two  Rough  Riders.  41 

July  3rd. — Spanish  flag  of  truce  raised  10 
A.M.;  digging  trenches  all  day. 

July  4th. — In  camp. 

July  5th. — In  camp. 

July  6th. — In  trenches,  4-10  P.M. 

July  7th. — In  trenches,  4-10  A.M. 

July  8th. — Digging  extra  rifle  pits. 

July  9th. — In  trenches  all  night. 

July  10th.— Sunday,  out  of  trenches  4  A.M. 
4:40  P.M.  brother  returned  from  hospital;  com- 
menced firing.  Spaniards  did  not  reply  heavily. 

July  llth. — Battle  opened  at  5  A.M.  Moved 
camp  1  P.M.  three  miles.  Kifle  pits  8  P.M. 

July  12th. — 6:30  A.M.  out  of  pits;  heavy  rain 
all  night  of  llth;  in  trenches  midnight. 

July  13th. — Hospital  detail ;  rifle  pits  midnight. 

July  14th. — Out  of  pits  6  A.M. 

July   15th. — Main  guard   5:30   A.M.   to   6:45 

P.M. 

July  16th. — Fatigue  duty,  digging  well. 

July  17th. — American  flag  raised  over  San- 
tiago at  noon;  rifle  pits  two  hours.  Spaniards 
stacked  arms  11 :45  A.M. 

July  18th. — Changed  camp;  occupied  Spanish 
block  house  on  hill  overlooking  Santiago  and  har- 
bor. 

July  19th. — Digging  road. 


42  Two  Rough  Riders. 

July  20th. — Brother  in  hospital.  This  is  the 
first  time  we  had  fresh  beef  since  June  6th. 

July  23rd. — With  brother  in  hospital. 

July  25th. — Assisting  putting  floor  in  tent. 

July  25th,  26th,  27th,  28th.— Guard  duty. 

July  29th. — Went  into  Santiago  with  Damie. 

July  30th. — Blue  shirts  and  shoes  issued. 

July  31st. — Eeceived  two  pairs  stockings. 

August  1st,  2nd. — Camp  duty. 

August  3rd. — Received  two  undershirts. 

August  4th. — Orders  to  move. 

August  5th,  6th. — Camp  duty. 

August  7th. — March  three  miles  to  E.  E.  trains 
to  Santiago.  Went  aboard  transport  Miami. 

August  8th. — Sailed  for  Montauk. 

August  9th,  10th,  llth.— At  sea. 

August  12th. — Funeral  at  sea. 

August  13th. — At  sea. 

August  14th.— Sighted  land. 

August  15th. — Landed  at  Montauk. 

August  16th,  17th,  18th.— Detention  camp. 

August  19th. — Ten  days'  furlough. 

August  21st. — Home  sick  with  fever. 

August  29th. — Brother  returned  to  Montauk. 

September  2nd. — Brother  home  from  camp. 

September   llth. — Returned  to  camp. 

September  14th. — Mustered  out  at  5  P.M. 


Medal  made  for  Rough  Riders  after  they  were  mustered  out 


Two  Rough  Riders.  43 

NOTE. — "There  were  several  pairs  of  brothers 
with  us;  of  the  two  Nortons,  one  was  killed;  of 
the  two  McCurdys  one  was  wounded." — From  the 
Rough  Riders. 

Colonel  Eoosevelt  made  this  report,  believing 
that  Kirk  McCurdy,  having  been  carried  from 
the  field,  was  wounded,  which  was  a  mistake,  as 
it  was  sunstroke  which  disabled  him,  although  a 
bullet  had  passed  through  his  hat. 

A  number  of  noteworthy  incidents  took  place 
during  the  service  of  these  two  Rough  Riders, 
which  are  most  interesting  and  unusual. 

Parents  and  friends  were  very  anxious  to  get 
news  from  Cuba,  and  to  learn  of  the  arrival  of 
supplies  which  were  constantly  being  forwarded. 
Mr.  McCurdy  was  most  constant  in  his  devotion 
to  his  sons,  and  endeavored  to  communicate  with 
almost  every  one  returning  from  the  seat  of  war. 

The  horrible  experiences  of  the  soldiers  on  the 
hospital  ships  going  to  Montauk  beggars  descrip- 
tion. After  their  arrival  there,  the  McCurdy  boys 
were  granted  a  ten  days'  furlough. 

Owing  to  their  father's  thoughtfulness,  in  send- 
ing them  beautiful  new  uniforms  of  the  best  qual- 
ity, they  were  enabled  to  start  for  New  York  in 
comfort.  Upon  taking  the  train,  an  old  gentleman 
sitting  opposite  eyed  them  critically  and  ventured 


44  Two  Rough  Riders. 

to  say,  "What  a  pity  you  boys  had  no  chance  to  see 
any  service  in  this  late  war."  Whereupon  one  of 
them  replied,  "We  were  only  volunteers,  sir." 
The  old  gentleman  inquired  as  to  what  regiment 
they  were  in.  The  reply  came:  "First  Cavalry." 
The  stranger,  being  ignorant  of  the  First  Cavalry, 
asked  of  what  it  consisted,  and  who  the  of- 
ficers were.  The  boys  modestly  replied  that  the 
First  Cavalry  was  known  as  the  Rough  Eiders, 
under  Theodore  Roosevelt.  The  old  gentleman 
was  profuse  in  his  apologies,  and  yet  appeared  to 
be  so  embarrassed  that  he  excused  himself  and  took 
another  seat  in  the  car,  to  the  amusement  of  the 
crowd  which  surrounded  them. 

An  admirer  who  was  standing  near  remarked 
to  the  old  gentleman :  "You  can  never  tell  how  far 
a  frog  can  jump  by  his  looks." 

Arriving  at  Long  Island  City  the  lads  proceeded 
to  indulge  in  the  luxury  of  a  "shine."  Imagine 
their  amazement  when  the  bootblacks  positively 
refused  to  receive  any  money  from  them.  They 
entered  a  restaurant  and  after  testing,  with  re- 
markable avidity,  all  the  goodies  of  which  they 
had  been  so  long  deprived,  they  called  for  their 
bill,  and  were  promptly  informed  that  the  pro- 
prietor could  receive  no  recompense  and  would  be 
honored  and  happy  to  further  serve  them  with 
anything  they  might  wish. 


Two  Rough  Riders.  45 

That  night  they  went  to  a  theatre.  A  long  line 
of  people  were  waiting  in  turn  to  purchase  tickets, 
and  they  heard  the  man  in  front  of  them  ask  for 
a  seat  and  was  told  there  were  none  left.  When 
the  young  Rough  Riders  presented  themselves  be- 
fore the  window  they  asked  for  standing  room. 

"Why  standing  room?"  asked  the  cashier. 

"You  told  the  man  ahead  of  us  there  were  no 
seats." 

"So  I  did,"  said  the  ticket  seller.  "But  you 
can't  buy  any  seats;  here's  a  box,  with  the  com- 
pliments of  the  theatre,  and  even  that  isn't  good 
enough  for  you." 

On  the  occasion  of  the  Naval  Review  in  New 
York  Harbor,  the  New  York  Yacht  Club  chartered 
a  special  steamer  to  meet  the  American  war  ships. 
Mr.  J.  M.  McCurdy,  their  father,  being  a  mem- 
ber of  that  Club,  his  two  sons  and  two  other  mem- 
bers of  the  Rough  Riders  were  invited  to  witness 
the  Review  from  the  club  boat.  The  boys  wore 
their  Rough  Rider  uniforms,  and  attracted  so 
much  attention,  and  were  the  recipients  of  so  many 
congratulations  and  courtesies,  that  it  was  noted 
in  the  newspapers,  and  particularly  in  the  New 
York  Herald,  which  said  they  had  received  as  many 
congratulations  and  were  the  objects  of  as  much 
interest  and  attention  as  the  man-of-war,  which  so 
proudly  steamed  up  the  Hudson. 


46  Two  Rough  Riders. 

Another  incident  which  was  never  published  took 
place  during  the  Anniversary  exercises  of  the  St. 
Paul  School,  when  Governor  Eoosevelt  went  up 
from  Albany  to  give  out  the  prizes.  At  the  con- 
clusion of  one  of  his  speeches,  Governor  Eoosevelt 
was  told  that  one  of  the  students  had  two  cousins 
with  the  Rough  Eiders,  and  he  asked  to  meet  him. 
Upon  the  student  being  introduced  to  him,  he  re- 
marked that  he  remembered  the  McCurdy  boys 
very  well,  and  said:  "They  were  two  boys  who 
joined  of  their  own  free  will,  and  went  into  the 
ranks  willingly,  and  without  asking  for  a  com- 
mission." 

Upon  several  occasions,  President  Eoosevelt  has 
complimented  the  McCurdy  boys,  and  particularly 
mentioned  them  in  his  book  entitled  "The  Eough 
Eiders." 

I  see  "Teddy"  Eoosevelt  is  still  culling  the  pick 
from  our  young  fellows.  Last  week  it  was  Howard 
Young,  the  son  of  Librarian  John  Eussell  Young, 
who,  before  his  father  went  to  Washington,  at- 
tended school  in  this  city,  where  he  made  many 
warm  friends.  This  week  it  is  two  of  Young's 
old  classmates  at  Cheltenham,  Allen  and  Kirk  Mc- 
Curdy. They  determined  to  join  the  "Eough 
Eiders"  as  soon  as  they  heard  of  Young's  enlist- 
ment. They  are  the  sons  of  my  friend,  John  M. 


Two  Rough  Riders.  47 

McCurdy,  of  the  Union  League.  He  tried  to  dis- 
suade them  but  had  to  give  in.  Last  week 
the  two  boys  left  their  course  as  juniors  in  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  and  on  Thursday 
evening  started  for  San  Antonio  to  join  Roosevelt's 
troop.  These  three  young  men  have  been  known 
among  their  Philadelphia  friends  as  "The  In- 
separables," and  I  suppose  they  do  not  intend  to 
allow  anything  like  war  to  separate  them.  Col. 
Roosevelt  has  acquired  a  trio  who  will  do  honor  to 
the  United  States  and  to  their  regiment.  My  best 
wishes  go  with  these  youthful  defenders  of  their 
country. — Washington  Correspondent,  Philadel- 
phia Star. 


48  Two  Rough  Riders. 


PHILADELPHIA  BOYS  IN  GUANTANAMO 
FIGHT. 

ALLEN  AND  KIRK    MCCURDY  IN  THE    RANKS    OP 
TEDDY'S  ROUGH  RIDERS. 

Among  the  gallant  troopers  who  covered  them- 
selves with  undying  glory  in  the  ranks  of  Eoose- 
velt's  Bough  Eiding  Bangers  at  the  battle  of 
Guantanamo  were  two  Philadelphia  boys,  F.  Allen 
Me  Curdy  and  J.  Kirk  Me  Curdy,  sons  of  J.  M. 
McCurdy.  The  elder,  Allen,  is  barely  twenty-one, 
and  his  brother  has  not  yet  reached  that  period  of 
adolescence,  but  they  are  patriots  to  the  backbone. 
As  soon  as  the  idea  of  the  organization  of  the 
Eough  Eiders  was  promulgated,  the  boys  leaped 
at  the  chance  of  joining  them,  and  before  the  regi- 
ment left  San  Antonio,  Texas,  for  Tampa,  they 
were  in  the  ranks  of  Troop  F,  which  troop  was, 
according  to  the  dispatches,  in  the  very  thick  of  the 
Guantanamo  engagement,  under  Captain  Maxi- 
milian Luna. 

Nearly  the  whole  troop  was  recruited  in  New 
Mexico,  the  McCurdy  boys  being  among  the  few 


Two  Rough  Riders.  49 

enlisting  from  the  East,  reaching  San  Antonio 
the  day  before  the  troop  left  for  Tampa. 

Both  boys  were  students  at  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania,  having  just  entered  last  fall,  Allen 
in  the  department  of  music  and  Kirk  taking  the 
regular  course.  Both  are  now  facing  the  music 
of  Mauser  rifles  in  Spanish  hands. — Philadelphia 
Press. 


50  Two  Rough  Riders. 


SEKVED  WITH  ROOSEVELT. 

TWO  PHILADELPHIA   BOYS   WHO    QUIT    COLLEGE   TO 
ENTER  THE   RANKS. 

Privates  F.  Allen  McCurdy  and  J.  Kirk  Mc- 
Curdy  are  the  only  Pennsylvania  boys  who  served 
with  Eoosevelt's  Eough  Eiders.  They  are  sons 
of  John  M.  McCurdy,  and  left  their  studies  at 
the  University  to  enter  the  volunteer  cavalry. 

They  joined  the  Eough  Eiders  at  San  Antonio, 
Texas,  a  few  days  before  going  to  Tampa,  and 
were  therefore  fortunate  not  to  be  left  in  Florida 
with  most  of  the  later  recruits.  They  are  mem- 
bers of  Troop  "F"  and  were  in  the  thickest  of  the 
fight  at  Las  Guasimas.  They  escaped  without  a 
scratch,  although  out  of  their  squad  of  ten  men, 
five  were  wounded  and  one  killed.  This  fight  was 
on  Kirk's  twentieth  birthday,  and  as  a  present  from 
the  Spanish,  he  cherishes  the  key  escutcheon  of  the 
blockhouse,  which  was  the  enemy's  stronghold 
there. 

They  were  also  in  the  three  days'  fight  at  San- 
tiago, and  escaped  unharmed,  save  for  scratches 
from  cacti  and  wire  fences.  After  that  and  be- 


Two  Rough  Riders.  51 

fore  their  return  to  this  country  Kirk  was  in  the 
hospital  twice,  the  first  time  having  malarial  fever, 
and  the  second  suffering  from  sunstroke. 

Both  boys  went  to  Cheltenham  Academy,  where 
Kirk  was  advanced  to  the  rank  of  captain.  At 
the  University  both  were  members  of  the  Houston 
Club  and  the  Mandolin  and  Guitar  Club,  while 
Allen  in  1897  was  on  the  cricket  and  foot-ball 
teams.  Their  only  regret  in  their  experience  as 
soldiers  is  that  they  had  to  leave  their  horses  in 
Tampa,  for  the  Eough  Eiders  did  not  ride  at  all 
in  Cuba. — Philadelphia  Times. 


52  Two  Rough  Riders. 


AMID  WHIZZING  BULLETS. 

SONS     OF   JOHN    M.    MCCUEDY    WITH     EOOSEVELT's 
ROUGH    EIDERS. 

Chester  Countians  will  read  with  interest  the 
following  story,  relating  the  experience  of  Kirk 
and  Allen  Me  Curdy,  two  young  sons  of  John  Mc- 
Curdy,  of  the  Chester  Springs  Stock  Farm,  in 
West  Pikeland  Township,  who  some  weeks  ago 
joined  Eoosevelt's  Eough  Eiders  and  went  to  the 
front. 

In  a  communication  received  from  the  boys  to 
their  father  in  Philadelphia,  they  made  the  fol- 
lowing reference  to  their  experience  during  the 
first  charge  of  the  Eough  Eiders  near  Santiago  de 
Cuba  :— 

"The  experience  was  one  we  shall  never  forget 
and  the  fighting  was  fierce.  The  Spaniards  were 
mostly  in  ambush,  and  it  was  almost  impossible 
for  us  to  do  effective  service  during  the  charge. 

"Comrades  on  each  side  of  me  were  shot  down 


8       g 

8      i 


a    5 


it< 

8   ja 


-s    111 

I  -p! 


Two  Rough  Riders.  53 

by  Spanish  bullets,"  continued  Kirk  McCurdy,  in 
writing  of  the  fight,  "and  a  bullet  went  through  my 
hat."  Allen  had  quite  a  narrow  escape  by  the 
flying  missiles,  too,  his  clothing  being  pierced  by 
a  bullet. — Westchester  (Pa.)  Local. 


54  Two  Rough  Riders. 


TWO  OF  KOOSEVELTS  MEN. 

THE  MCCURDY  BOYS,   WHO   SAW  HARD   SERVICE   IN 
CUBA,  HOME  ON  A  FURLOUGH. 

Two  of  Koosevelt's  famous  terrors  arrived  in 
Philadelphia  yesterday  on  a  ten  days'  furlough. 
They  are  the  sons  of  John  M.  McCurdy,  of  this 
city.  Of  their  experience  in  Cuba  they  had  little 
to  say.  They  were  much  more  anxious  to  know 
what  had  been  going  on  here. 

Military  and  naval  circles  are  well  represented 
here,  men  belonging  to  both  these  branches  of 
Uncle  Sam's  defensive  and  aggressive  elements 
being  here  in  numbers.  The  greater  proportion  of 
them  are  convalescents,  who  are  in  search  of  the 
healthful  qualities  of  the  salt  air.  As  they  walk 
along  the  esplanade,  they  never  fail  to  attract  at- 
tention and  admiration;  the  former  being  caused 
by  their  military  garb  and  the  latter  for  the  grave 
and  good  cause  for  which  it  was  donned. 


Two  Rough  Riders.  55 

Among  those  observed  were  F.  Allen  McCurdy  and 
J.  Kirk  McCurdy  of  Philadelphia,  who  were  num- 
bered among  the  heroes  in  the  battle  before  San- 
tiago, being  members  of  Col.  Koosevelt's  Rough 
Eiders.  Both  are  Quaker  cityites,  being  sons  of 
John  M.  McCurdy.  They  are  domiciled  at  Had- 
don  Hall,  where  they  will  linger  a  week  or  so. — 
Atlantic  City  (N.  J.)  Review. 


THE  END. 


o )  = 


<  \ 

c5  «K 
% 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 
LM  Angela 

Thi.  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


Q|_UUl  I  !    1 


315 


ffllllftflll 

*    ZJI      I    §       ^ 


^  s 

S      o 


<    I 
s    s 


i  I 


s    I 

§:          ~ 


1   3 


%   § 

S    I 


ff   % 


& 


1-     f 


^OF-CAUFO^ 
S        S 


I        $, 


